Adjustable bridge for trial-frames.



A. E. INN ES.

ADJUSTABLE BRIDGE FOR TRIAL FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1913.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

avwemfoz G Mom leg THE NORRIS PE'IERb L'U.. PHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON. D.C

l STATES Parana cl rion;

ALBERT E. ,INNES,

OF DENVER, COLORADO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed March 13, 1913. Serial No. 753,996.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. burns, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Bridges forTriaLFrames; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings,

and to the letters and, figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the class of optical instrumentsknown as trial frames, which, as the title indicates,

are employed in trying lenses in connection with the operation oftesting theeyes preparatory to fittinga person with eye-glasses.

My present improvement: relates exclusively to an adjustable bridgeconstruction which is adapted for use with an instrument of theaforesaid character. Heretofore, so far as I am aware, these trialframes have been equipped with a crescent-shaped member which is hingedto the inner extremity of the bar located directly in front of the noseand extending between the rings of the instrument which hold the lensesduring the trial operation. This crescent-shaped member may be movedtoward and away from the nose by the use of a screw journaled in thesaid bar and passing through a nut mounted on the lowerextremity of avertical bar, the latter being employed for the vertical adjustment ofthe horizontal. bar carry-r ing the crescent-shaped, nose engagingdevice. This latter device engages the top of the nose, its properposition being on top of the bridge of the nose, and it isunsatisfactory for the reason that it cannot be clamped to the nose, orsecured in any way to prevent it from sliding downwardly on the nosewhen the instrument is so adjusted as to permit such action, and this isoften necessary during the eye-testing operation.

My present improvement consists of a pair of pads adapted-to engage thebridge of the nose on opposite sides,the said pads being adjustableindependently of the ad justment of the frame. toward and away tremitiesof two links, the inner extremities of the said links being pivotallyconnected with a bearing swiveled on the rear extremity of ascrew,thelatter passing through a longitudinally disposed threadedopening formed in a larger screw, the latter being threaded in the nutcarriediby the body of the frame. Pivotally connected with the firstpair of links are two other links, the opposite extremities of thelatter being pivotally connected with one of the bearings in which thehollow screw is journaled. By virtue of this construction, when thelarge screw is turned in the nut in a direction to cause it to traveleithentoward or away from the nose, the smaller screw rotates with itand the relation of the pads is not changed except that they are movedbodily in one direction or the other. The adjustment, of the pads iseffected entirely by the smaller screw. When this screw is turned in onedirection the pads are tightened upon the nose, while when it is turnedin the opposite direction, the pads are loosened. lVhen, however, thepads are properly adjusted to the nose, the frame may be moved toward oraway from the nose by turning the large screw, without interfering withthe adjustment of the pads.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed todescribe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing,in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a front view of a trial frame equipped withmy improvement. Fig.2 is a section taken on the line 2+2, Fig. 1,looking downwardly. In this view the construction is shown on a largerscale. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33, Fig-1, looking towardthe left. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken axially through the twoscrews, the section cutting, also, the adjacent parts. Fig. 5 is afragmentary view illustrating a slightly modified form of constructionon a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a detail view on a still larger scale,showing the manner of connecting the pads with the outer extremities ofthe links to permit self-adjustment of the same, both laterally andlongitudinally on the noseof I the wearer. Fig. 7 is a similar viewpartly in section.

The same reference characters indlcate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body of the trial frame, which need notbe described in detail, since my improvement relates alone to the partof the structure employed to engage the nose, and move the frame; toward and away from the latter. A relatively large screw 6 is exteriorlythreaded to engage a nut 7 secured to the lower extremity of avertically disposed bar 8, in" whichis journaled a screw 9 threaded in anut 10 carried by the horizontal bar 2 ar-' ranged above and extendingat right angles to the axis of the screw 6. The opposite extremities ofthe screw 6 are journaled in3 bearings 12-and 13, the said bearingsbeing rigidly connected, as shown at 14 and 15, with the oppositeextremities of a graduated bar 16 which occupies a position between:

the toothed rings 17 of the instrument. If the bar 16', together withthe bearings 12 and 18, are prevented from longitudinal travel,

the nut together with the body of the frame will be caused to travelupon the screw 6 when the latter is rotated in its bearings.

The screw 6 is provided with a threaded perforation 18 extendingcentrally therethrough and longitudinally thereof. Passing through thisthreaded perforation is a relatively small screw 19, both extremities ofwhich extend beyond the extremities of the screw 6. The forwardextremity of the.

screw 19 is provided with a milled head 20 for convenience ofmanipulation. Its rear extremity is journaled in a bearing 21 to whichare pivotally connected, as shown at 22, the forward extremities of twolinks 23- on whose rear extremities are mounted pads 24 adapted toengage the nose of the wearer on opposite sides, the same being locatedbetween the eyes of the person who is wearing the frame. Each of thesaid pads is provided with separated ears. 25 pivoted as shown at a onopposite sides of a sleeve 0,

to allow the pad a rocking adjustment on. the nose. The sleeve 0 isrotatably. adjustable on the link, between stops or shoulders (Z and c.This rotary movement is limited by a stationary lug f which enters aslot 9 formed in the sleeve and extending, only partway around r thelatter. Two other links 26 are pivotally connected at their forwardextremities to the links 23, approXi-' mately midway between theextremities of 3' .the said'he'ad being located in the rear of thehead20 of the screw 19.

From the, foregoing description, the use and operation of my improvedconstruction will be readily understood.

Assuming that the trial in position with the bows engaging the ears ofthe wearer, the pads 24 may be moved to the proper position, eitherforwarder back,

as may be required, and when in such position, the pads may be adjustedby turning the screw 19 within the screw 6. If this screw is movedforwardly, or in a direction to cause the bearing 21 to travel away fromthe nose, the pads 24 will be tightened or clamped to the opposite sidesof the nose; while, if the screw is moved in the. opposite loosened uponthe nose. It will thus be seen that the pads are adjusted to thenose forclamping purposes, or to disengage them from the nose, by the screw 19exclusively, since, when the screw 6 1S turned, the screw 19 rotatestherewith, the two screws 'consequently at such time remaining in thesame relation to each other. This is due to the fact that the frictionincident to the turning of the screw 19 within its bearing 21 is lessthan that required to cause one screw to turn in or upon the other. Fromthis explanation it will be understood that the frame may be securelymounted upon the nose, whereby frame is placed direction, thepads willbe spread apart or .95 it will be more comfortable, since the entire 1weight of the trial frame is removed from the top of the nose to thesides thereof.

By virtue oflmy improvement I obtain two or three times more bearingsurface upon the nose by the use of the pads, than where thecrescent-shaped plate heretofore used, is employed. Furthermore, myimprovement is capable of universal use, since itmay be made to fit anyand all kinds of noses. It will also hold the frame steady in oneposition, without wabbling.

It is very important that the should be held steady, and firmly inplace, since, under such conditions, refraction will be more nearlyabsolute. 'My improvement is also very serviceable, and will last aslong as the, trial frame. It is exceedingly simple in construction, andalmost automatic in'its operation. frame at a very slight additionalcost over the old construction. It is'easily repaired trial frame 1 Itcan be applied to the trial and may be quickly and easily attached toall frames.

In the form of construction shown in 27 and at their inner extremities,as shown at 32 to the bearing 21. From the foregoing description of themanner in which the packers mounted upon the links, it is evident thatthese pads will automatically adjust themselves to the shape of thenose, both laterally or up and down on the nose, and longitudinally orlengthwise of the latter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Atrial frame having a hollow screw, a nut carried by the body of theframe in which the screw is threaded, the said screw being journaled inbearings slidably mounted onthe frame and being interiorly threaded, asecond screw threaded in the first named screw, a bearing in which thesecond screw is journaled, means for engaging the nose on oppositesides, and an operative connection between the said means and the,bearing of the second screw and one of the bearings of the first screw.

2. A trial frame having a hollow screw, a nut carried by the frame inwhich the said screw is threaded, the screw being journaled in bearingsslidably mounted on the body of the frame and being ,interiorlythreaded, a second screw threaded in the first-named screw, a bearing inwhich the rear extremity of the second screw is journaled, means forengaging the nose on opposite sides, arms on which the said means ismounted, the said arms being pivotally connected with the bearing of thesecond screw, and links pivotally connectin the said. arms with one ofthe bearings of the first named screw.

3. A trial frame having a hollow screw threaded both interiorly and.exteriorly, a nut carried by the body of the frame in which the saidscrew is threaded, bearings mounted on the body of the frame inwhich theopposite extremities of the said screw are journaled, a second screwthreaded. in the first named screw,a bearingin which the second screw isjournaled, pads for en? gaging the nose on opposite sides, and anoperative connection between the said pads and the bearing of the secondscrew and one of the bearings of the first screw.

4. A trial frame having a hollow screw threaded in a nut carried by thebody of the frame, bearings slidably mounted on the frame and in whichthe said screw is journaled, a second screw passingthrough the hollow ofthe first named screw and threaded in the latter, pads for engaging thenose on opposite sides, arms on which the said pads are mounted, thesaid arms being pivotally connected with the bearingof the second screw,and links pivotally connecting the said arms with a bearing of the firstnamed screw.

5. A trial frame equipped with a screw having a longitudinalperforation, the said screw being journaled both interiorly andexterior-1y, a nut carried by the body of the frame and in which thesaid screw is threaded, bearings in which the said screw isjournaled,the said, bearings being slidably connected with the body ofthe frame, a second screw threaded in the longitudinal perforation ofthe first named screw, a bearing in which the second screw is journaled,pads adapted to engage the nose on opposite sides, arms to which thesaid pads are secured, the said arms being pivotally connected with thebearingof the second screw, and links pivotally connectedwith the saidarms at one extremity and with one of the bearings of the first namedscrew at their opposite extremities, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, a

body frame, an element arranged to be ad-.

justed upon said frame in a direction perpendicular thereto, and noseengaging means mounted upon said element, said means being controllableto grasp or release the nose of the wearer.

7. In a device of the class described, a body frame, an element arrangedto be adjusted upon said frame in a direction perpendicular thereto,nose engaging means, and means mounted upon said element adapted to openor close said nose engaging ADJ. OBRInN, ANNA LOUISE LEHMAN.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained tor flve cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 13.0.

